Vehicle destination sign mechanism



May 13, 1958 H.' Y'. MAGEocl-l VEHICLE DESTINATION SIGN MECHANISM 3 Sheet's-Sheet 1 Filed oet. 11. 1954 HARRY YHLE MHGEQCH BVMW ATTORNEY May 13, 1958 H. Y. MAGl-:QCH 2,834,131

VEHICLE DESTINATION SIGN MECHANISM INI/ENTOR HHRRY YALE MAGEQCH BY. XM@

H TTRNE Y May 13, 1958 H. Y. --MAGEocH VEHICLE DESTINATION SIGN MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed oct. 11, 1954 IN VE N TOR H n N e R G O A n M A m M Y/m.

United States Patent VEHICLE DESTENATION SIGN MECHANISM Harry Yale Mageoch, Havertown, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to H. K. Porter Company, Inc. of Pittsburgh, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,365

8 Claims. (Cl. 40 95) The present invention relates generally to vehicle station designation sign mechanisms wherein the sign curtain is relatively long and narrow and is more particularly concerned with an improved construction thereof affording certain functional advantages.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle designation sign having a relatively long and narrow sign curtain wherein the 1atter is adapted to travel .over and be positioned upon a transversely curved or bowed support of light transmitting material whereby the range :of sign visibility is increased.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle designation sign having a relatively long and narrow sign curtain adapted to be wound upon a spaced pair of relatively short rollers wherein the curtain is constantly under lengthwise tension and wherein the rollers may 'have their relative speeds automatically varied as re- -quired to compensate for their changing curtain roll diameters as the curtain is transferred from one roller -to the other when the sign is operated to change its lstation designation.

It is a further object ,of the invention to provide a vehicle designation sign of the class referred to wherein the means to tension the curtain and to vary the roller speeds is disposed externally of the rollers thereby facilitating the employment of relatively short rollers upon each of which is adapted to be wound a relatively long length of curtain material.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide -a vehicle designation sign of the class referred to wherein 1a drive is arranged to commonly actuate said rollers and wherein the means to tension the curtain and to vary the sroller speeds forms a part of the driving arrangement.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a -vehicle designation sign of the 'class referred to wherein ra relatively long drive shaft, directly connected to one roller, is connected through a shaft-aligned spring-loaded .barrel to the other roller, whereby the one roller is 'adapted to be positively actuated while the other roller lis adapted to be yieldingly actuated when the drive shaft :is turned, to the end that the curtain may constantly be :under tension and the rollers may have their relative speeds automatically varied when the signis operated to -change its sign designations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all

as described in detail in the following specification, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a plan view of the vehicle station designa- Ation sign of the present invention, showing in particular the elongated, transversely curved path of traverse of the curtain between the oppositevend rollers of the Slgl'l;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the sign with n2,834,131 Patented May 13, 1958 Figure 3 as taken along the line 4 4 of Figure l;`

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the sign showing the relative disposition of its component parts in plan as taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 2 with portions of the curtain frame broken away to show the transversely curved support or backing for the curtain;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the sign showing the constructional details of the arrangement for yieldingly driving one of the curtain rollers through the spring-loaded barrel and associated parts as taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional View through the spring-loaded barrel showing an anchor yfor one end of the spring, as taken along the line 7 7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is another vertical cross-sectional v iew through the spring-loaded barrel showing an anchor 4for the opposite end of the spring as taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 6;

vFigure 9 is still anothersvertical cross-sectional-view through the spring-loaded barrel showing the arrangement whereby the barrel tube may rotate relative to the springbiased'shaft as taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 6;

Figure l0 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the upper end of a curtain roller showing the curtain anchoring arrangement as taken along the line lil-1i) of Figure 6; and

Figure ll is a vertical cross-sectional view through one of a pair of spaced curtain idler rollers disposed at opposite ends of the transversely curved curtain support, as taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5 thereof, it will be observed that the station designation sign unit of the present invention includes a box-like frame or support for an illuminated station-designating curtain 10, which is relatively narrow in width and may be of any desired length suliicient to have printed thereon in longitudinally spaced relation the names of a number of diierent stations along the route of travel of the vehicle equipped with the sign. The housing for this curtain includes a pair of horizontally disposed, parallel top and bottom plates 11 and 12 which are suitably secured together in vertically spaced relation, as shown, to support therebetween a vertically disposed, elongated member 13 formed of any suitable light-transmitting material, such as, transparent or translucent glass or plastic sheet material, e. g., Plexiglas, or even sheet metal suitably apertured for the transmission of light therethrough. This light-transmitting member 13, which is vertically disposed between corresponding outer edges of the top and bottom plates 11 and 12, is transversely curved lengthwise of its support so as to provide an outwardly bowed fiat surface over which the curtain 1t) may pass as it is shifted lengthwise of its support 13 in either direction to display the name of any one of the stations printed on the curtain. Secured at each opposite end of the curtain support is an idler roller 14, which idler rollers are so vertically disposed as to permit the curtain 10 to pass tangentially structure, designated generally by the reference numeral 15, for a pair of curtain rollers 16 and 17. This supporting structure for the curtain rollers 16 and 17 includes a pair of vertically spaced top and bottom plates 18 and 19, the top plate being in the form of a downwardlypresenting channel having a frontal wall 2,0 which is securedA tothe top plate of the front curtain housing bya plurality of longitudinally spaced angled clip membersZl, While the bottomrplate 19, of Z-shaped crosssection, is provided with an upstanding flange 22 which issecured tothe bottom plate 12, of the curtain housing by a plurality of longitudinally spaced angled clip members 23.

suitably supported between the top and bottom platesV 18 andjlvof the roller-supporting structure is a horizontallyfextending'l'amp-socket supporting rail 24, this latter railbeing preferably secured rigidly in position by a plurality offangled'clip members 25 suitably secured to the top platel Vof the frontV curtain support. The Vrail 24 suitably mounts a plurality of lamp sockets 26,4`each of which isladapted to receive a lamp bulb 26"? for illuminating the station-designating curtain lil'by light transmitted fromV the lamps to 'and through'the transversely curved support or backing4 13v forthe curtain.

most clearly appears in Figures l and 2, the curtain rollers. 16 Vand 17 are respectivelyv disposed inverti- 'cally extending relation atopposite ends 'of the vertically spacediplates 16 and E of the supporting structurel 15. Thes'erollers 16 and 17 are generally alike in thatV each includes, asbest shown. in Figure 6, aV curtain-receiving tube 27 into the opposite ends of which are press-fitted or otherwise nonrotat'aoly secured the'centra'l hub 23 of an annular flange 29, the hub of which flange is centrally fitted, with a roller-supporting shaft. Thus, each of the rollers 16 and 17 is provided at'its lov/er end with a downwardly` presenting'shaft 30 and at its upper end with coaxial upwardly presenting shaft 31. v

As appears most clearly in Figures 2 and 6, the lowermest shafts 3.0-30 of the vertically disposed curtain rollers 16 and 17 are respectively journalied in bearing members 32-3'2' of such'design and construction as to facilitate lateral displacement ofthe shafts 3ft- 36 from their bearings for bodily removal of the rollers when andas desired. Thesebearings 32-32r for the bottom end shafts 30-30 of the curtain rollers may be of any conventional form, and form noV part of the present invention. The top end shaftsV 314-31'of-the curtain rollers 1 6 'and 17 yare lrespectively journalled insuit'able bearing members 'S3-,3 3 fixed to and carried by the top plate IS-of a curtain roller-supporting structure i5, these bearing members 33e-373 being each'preferablyl in the form of'afrielongated block of square or rectangular section having its upper end secured rigidly to *the plate 13, as by a lscrew 34, and having its lower end socketed, as at 35, for rotatably receiving the upper extremity of the shaft 371 at the top end of each curtain roller. As also appears most clearly in Figures 2 and 6, the top end shafts 31u-31 of the curtain rollers each have keyed thereto a bevel gear 3 6, rotation of which in either direction effects corresponding rotation of the curtain roller immediately associated therewith.

Suitably journalled within the curtain roller-supporting structure 15 immediatelybeneath the top plate 13 thereof is a ylongitudinally extending drive shaft 37. This drive shaft 37 extends generally from above the curtain roller Y 16 to a point approximately midway of the roller-supportting structure 15, its left hand end, as viewed inV Figure 2v, being projected through the bearing clock 33 for rotatable support thereby, while ite right hand end, as best vsliown in Figure', is rotatably/"jourrialled in abearing member 38 whichforms part of the curtain sign operat- 'ing mechanism which will lbe described in further detail hereinafter and which is suitably supported by the top Yplate 18"'of the curtain rollersupporting structure 15. freely projecting' left hand extremity of the shaft lrv 37 is nonrotatably fitted with a bevel gear 39 which is in meshed engagement with the bevel gear 36'of the curtain roller 16, while keyed to the right hand end of the shaft 37 is a bevel gear 40.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 6. to 9, inclusive, it will be observed that the free extremity of the longitudinally extendingshaft 37 is splined, as at 41, to the end hub 42 of a coaxially extending roller tube 43 which is revolubie with the shaft 37 about the longitudinal axis thereof. The opposite, i. e,.`r,ight hand, end of this rciler tube 43- is fitted witha centrally afper tured hub member.y 4,4. Also, it will be notedfnthatithe roller tube` 43 is indented, as at 45, adjacentl its left hand end to provide an internal rib 46' extending partially about the circumference ofrthcrroller tube, which latter tube is further provided along its full length with alongitudinally extending indentation 47 to provide an internal rib 48 disposed substantially midway between the opposite ends of the"`ci'r'curnferentially extending internal 11h46.. .t t

Fitted within the roller tube 43 is a spring retainer disc 49, the circumferential `dge` of whichV is notched, Vas at 50, to receive therein the longitudinally extending internal rib 48 of the roller 'tube`43 the disc 49 being thus retained within the r'olle'r tube against rotation 'relatively thereof while being movableV axial-ly thereof.' The'disc 49 is restrained against'axial movement toward the left hand erid of the rollerttibeby the circumferentially extending internal rib 46 against1 which it normally abuts.

The disc 4 9 is centrally recessed, ,as at 51, to receive therein one end ofa spring-supporting tube 5 2, the opposite or right hand end'of 'this tube- S2 terminating just short of and being in axial alignment with the central aperture ofi the endhub 44 ofthe external roller tube'43. It Will be noted that the tube 52, which is of substantially smaller diameter than the tube 43, is disposed concentrii cally within the latter tube. j

Extending axially ofthe spring-supporting tube 52 toward the right hand curtain roller 17:V is a shaft 53,' the freely projecting end of which is` rotatably journalled in a socket 54 suitably provided therefor in the right hand bearing block 33. Keyed to this shaft 53 is a bevelgear 55 disposed for constant mesh'cngagement with the bevel gear 36, which is xedly associated with the curtain roller 17. The portion of the shaft 53 immediately4 to the left of its bevel gear 55 is 'rotatably journalled Within the hub 44 of the external roller tube 43, While the freely projecting left hand end portion of this shaft 53` projects into and serves as a support for the internal spring-supporting tube S2.

Embracing the internal spring-supporting tube 52 is a coiled spring 56, the right hand terminal end 5 7 of which is extended diametrically through vthe tube 512 and that portion of the shaft 53 which projects into said tube, while the left hand extremity of the coiled spring 56 is provided with a terminal extremity 53 which projects through and thus is secured to the disc 49. The shaft 53 constitutes in effect an axial extension of the tube 52, which shaft tube assembly is supported for rotation within three axially spaced bearings respectively provided byV the disc 49, the hubY 44 and the end bearing block 33.

It will be observed from the foregoing that upon rotation of the shaft`38 in either direction the roller tube 17 will be correspondingly rotated through the intervention of the spring-connectedconcentric tubes 43 and A52 and the meshed bevel gears 55 and 36, the gear 5.5,. being driven bythe shaft 53 and in turn driving the gear 36 xed to the shaft 31 of the curtain roller 17.

For operating the sign mechanism of the present invention, that is, for effecting rotation of the main drive shaft 37 in one direction or the other in order to wind the curtain 10 upon one of the curtain rollers as itfis unwound from the other and vice versa, the unit includes Van operating assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral 59, preferably disposed centrally of the asomar unit for top-side operation thereof. As appears most clearly in Figures 3 and 6, this operating mechanism 59 includes a centrally apertured plate 60 which is secured, as at 61, in laterally oiset relation to the top member 18 of the curtain roller-supporting structure, this plate 60 being of inverted cup-shaped form and having a bottcm closure plate 62 which is suitably secured to the depending ange 20 of the member 1S by an angle bracket 63. Preferably, the outer overlapping edges of the cupshaped plate and its bottom closure plate 62 are se- 1 cured together as by bolts 6ft. Disposed within the hollow casing formed by the plate members 61) and 62 is a drive clutch assembly 66 having a drive shaft 67 projecting upwardly through the apertured plate 60, the projecting end of this drive shaft 67 being iitted with a hand operated crank member 63. The drive end of the clutch assembly 66 is provided with a revoluble spur gear 69, the teeth of which are in mesh engagement with those of a driven spur gear 76 suitably journalled for rotation about a vertically disposed shaft 71 fixed, as at 72, to 1 the top member 1S of the curtain roller-supporting structure.

Suitably fixed to and revoluble with the spur gear 70 is a bevel gear 73, which latter gear is in mesh with the bevel gear 40 fixed to the main operating shaft 37. will be noted that the lower end of the supporting shaft 71 about which the spur gear 70 and the bevel gear 73 are revoluble as a unit projects into and supports member 38 which serves as a bearing for the shaft 37.

While any suitable clutch assembly, such as that designated 66, may be employed for driving the shaft 37 in either direction upon corresponding rotation of the'crank 68, it is preferred to employ for this purpose a clutch assembly of the construction shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 273,391, filed February 26, 1952, which clutch assembly is operative to permit free turning of the crank 68 in either direction when the crank handle is operated to rotate gear 69 in either direction but which resists turning of said gear 69 when rotative effort is applied thereto by the crank handle at the outer surface of the gear. Thus, when the crank is rotated to present in viewing position a preselected portion of the sign curtain 1t), the latter is held secure against creeping in either direction. Inasmuch as the nonreversing clutch mechanism 66 may be of any desired construction and thus does not constitute an indispensible part of the present invention, the description of such a clutch mechanism as it appears in the aforesaid pending application is included herein and made a part hereof by reference only.

As has been previously indicated, the printed curtain 10 is adapted to closely overlie the transversely curved light transmitting support or backing 13 during its traverse from one curtain roller to the other, it being apparent, of course, that opposite end portions of the curtain are respectively wound about the rollers 16 and 17, the general arrangement being such that as the curtain is wound upon one of these rollers it is unwound from the other. The idler rollers 14-14 are each freelyA rotatable about fixed shafts 74 suitably secured in vertically disposed position between the top and bottom plates 11 and 12 of the front curtain support. As shown in Figure 1l, these idler rollers 141-14 each includes a tube 75 internally litted at its opposite ends with hubs 76 which are revolubly journalled on the fixed shaft 74. Preferably, the opposite ends of the curtain 10 are respectively secured to the rollers 16 and 17 by means of retainer pins which press and retain the ends of the curtains in longitudinally extending indented seats 78 suitably formed in the peripheral surfaces of the rollers.

In the operation of the curtain sign mechanism of the present invention, the curtain rollers 16 and 17 are initially removed from their respective supports so as to permit each opposite end portion of the curtain to be wrapped several turns about each of the rollers, followwrapped about the right hand roller 17, leaving extended between the rollers only such length of the curtain as is necessary to more or less snugly overlie the transversely curved support 13 therefor upon replacement of the rollers into their operative position. However, before replacing the roller 17 in its operative position, that is, with its bevel gear 36 in mesh with the bevel gear 55, the latter gear is turned by hand an amount sufficient to impart to the coiled spring 56 a predetermined tension, '-.rhich tension may vary, depending upon the length of the curtain, its weight and other factors, such as, the amount of friction existing between the curtain and its transversely curved backing or support 13. Thereupon, without releasing the tension imposed upon the coiled spring 56, the roller 17 is replaced in operative position, it being apparent that upon meshing of the bevel gears 3,6 and 55 the established tension of the coil spring 56 will be retained by the tube 43, which will then be held stationary by reason of its nonrotatable securement to the main shaft 37, which latter, of course, remains stationary so long as the crank 68 of the'operating mechanism 59 is not moved.

With the curtain 11i thus disposed in position over its support 13 and the mechanism preliminarily springloaded as just described, the mechanism is ready for operation t0 shift the curtain wound upon the roller 17 lengthwise across the support 13 for winding about the roller 16, a sucient length of the curtain being taken off of the roller 17 to present to view the name of any one of the stations printed on the curtain.

At this point, it should be noted that as the curtain 'is withdrawn from one roller and wound upon the other, the overall diameters of the rolls of the curtain on the rollers 16 and 17 will vary, in consequence of which the linear speed of travel of the curtain about the rollers 16 and 17 will vary in accordance with the diameters of the curtain rolls on the rollers. Thus, assuming that the major length of the curtain is wrapped about the roller 17, it will be apparent that for each succeeding revolution of this roller 17 in curtain winding direction there will be a tendency to increase the rotative speed of the roller 16. Exactly the same condition would prevail should more of the curtain be wound about the roller 16 than about the roller 17, in which case continued rotation of the roller 16 in curtain winding direction would tend to cause an increased speed of rotation of the curtain roller 17.

Conversely, when either roller contains a minor portion of the curtain, the continued rotation of said Yroller in curtain winding direction would result in reduced speed of rotation of the roller containing the larger amount of curtain. Obviously, were the rollers connected together by a rigid interconnecting shaft, any such variation in relative rotative speeds of the two rollers would render impossible their conjoint operation, as is necessary in the case of `a sign mechanism in which a length of curtain is wound upon one roller simultaneously as it is unwound from another.

The `mechanism kof the present invention, including particularly the'spring-interconnected tubes 43 and S2 disposed in intervening relation with respect to the shafts 37 and 53 respectively geared to the rollers 16 and 17, compensates for any differential in the rotative speeds of the rollers 16 and 17 and at the same time maintains a constant tension on the curtain 1t) as it is rolled up from a small diameter roll on one roller to a larger diameter roll on the other roller, as well as when it is rolled up from a large diameter' roll on one roller to a smaller diameter roll on the other roller.

In the mechanism of the present invention, as the curtain 10 is caused to traverse its light-transmitting support or backing 13 so that it is wound up onone roller simultaneously as it is unwound from the other, which traverse is, of course, effected by operation of the cranki'ti? v and Clielri-S, thecpil Spring Sli-Will, ggadqpallywind canli '68, 'to permit ,increased orA ro tiii Cef one'froller relativelytolh Y T g 5 6,4 beingunder constan; tension; tends constant-IY t9 mainlain thefrcurtain 1 0 wound upo'nthe' curtainrollerl 'lldlhus the portion of thefcirtain which` extends fi'eel')I- between the 'two rollers is held constantly tariff It will bel apparent that` the ertent'of Windi'rigiaridlliny'inding of "che, coil! spring 57 as the cnrtaiifisXimnil 'pon ofrie roller andfsirnultaneonsly unwundfroni ili'eotvher will' depend liponllie'length of cin-tain which is withdrawn fr orn onefrollerfm Winding''bont the'oiher, yand phat' upon eachrevlnfion 4of either'V rollelrfinfcilr-tairifvind ing4 direction 'the coil spring, 45.16,'` Willifie VWcmii'd i-ni-Y vgfjciunid a relariyeiy nigh/erranti An importnfeafuref'oif ef, presentvlinvention is the utlzatib 'of afrelatirlrnarroritpfoninf I'eii Wl ovjer a cprvedsiirface ofs'nbstjantilleng-tli eXtepd ingbetn/een ap, 'rfof spaced c''rt'a'iri rollers, allas herein shown Yand describjed. B5/ employing siic'li a epriainftlie slifion naines@ b C- Vljxl't'el ccerssinrelii yaljoiig` tf1-1e length 'oftheV 'curtain each Within, al pcebpronidiir for Wide anglepview thereof when presented in Astaiio'ril in: dicating position, Because he'f station narines are printed len th Wi S e Qf'h- Qnr;; an, ample Silplf Offburiai iS ..1 d,`irfbehf apparent ihtlihefsin mdiane@ e' present 'invention' eaehfof'thespaedwrpllers is de; d Per v'fo seire asjrriaryfilrns @f fhecur.- may be: reqni're'dandg thai' eih'er'` one 0L the rollers may b crtai'riwrppedto la Inxchn greateri diarneteg than the/other Withoutv disturbing in 'any waylprpper operation or lqtn'rpurwhen niurtaiii'fs s'hifrdfvfrom ma to A :d4 .,i., r..

'Itfis i'riiportantio note also that` the esoilspririg55l is d ismsjeil 'externally yof ih -rollers @mitin C .Onesrlencemay be alidnifalils is ffa length nsdrablyf greater than tht'ofvthe 'roller with wllicl'iit is: imvrnediately associated s fOf the.;A said roller mayf'ble suiiiie'nrlyy springfloaded\` to maintain crfain tantv` dilrirlgy all*c olrd'itions` of` operaT tion arial-for adii1's positionsthereof.

If Will. be ildrfif ifnoe lha? tneprpsern in ventionis suscepvtiblef'of variouslcharigehs andrnodi'cations which Ainni/"bef in ade irorn time io time wit'lgo'i'li de; parting fron'ifthe general principles or rea'llsp'ijritrhereof as hereinbefore described and ltw-ill.l bieunderstqo'dpa; cordingly'lhlat i'risjthef ientlnn, i0 dem the same broadly; 'as well sspeicaliy,- 'as' indicated by` the; ap; pendedclams.

" Whait ""cl edasnen amseful, is;

1i In; ia, vehicle Si'a'iin 'dgigrafi'eia Sie mehanism 0f pied fo reckeiye: oppositie endpqr rihqsiign.' c

"3 In. a'v-ehsle Stationdesignation.Signmhanism O f the character described'a pairlof spaced; parallel curtain rollers'lresr'i `tivvely 'ada'pied to receive opposite endporf tions of'aenrtin toffbe 'Wound upon one roller simul taneously as'i't is unwound from 'the other wherebylo present to View a selected portion offthe curtair'ite'rriend# ing between said rollerspand drive means for said'rolle'rs including adpair or axially spaced, ycoaxial shaftfellenientr's; having their-jonger ends respectively'drivejconnec'fed to correspondingI ends of Vthe rollers, and spring posedbetween and interconnecting said shaftgelenientsto permit diirential r'QlatQH there@ aS- the rtlli is' from 'theihen lljlnavehiclestation designation sign mechanism of the character'describedfa pair of spaced, parallel'eilrltain*rollersrespeeiively adapted to receive opposite exrid portions of acrtainnolbe woundupon one roller'siniul tarieoiislyJ as it' is'fnlninndfrorn' the other'- iyher'ebyft'o; i "Sinonimos of thecrtamfxehdl d Sammler@ irai/drive means rs'psaiq ipilgs' inning a, piff axially, @een .coaxial shan lements lia/g'tlie' -nte'r4 ends 'respectively driie-el'iefcted'to Correspondmg 'ends 0f ih? "fQ11 r'S "a aan. 'O f" co'fcshfffi'c tiibes c oav'llrial and iniery':ning'l said arriallfspaed eSPe, 1iY1 S/ cbmlbffil 'dzfs'lipi`-t` elernents' ndbelfrvlgl'j/ieldi'ng'*iiefconnested iol'prmi rb fiifr 0f, Si Sliefflmfsafid `0`f said rollers vat"rela tivelydifferent 'spereclsf` 'l 5. In a vehicle'station desi nationv's'ignmechanisrn of the Cheli-ader dfibdpar;f nf'r'anlreifviri llaf disposed in 'spac'ed parallelZ relation4 to present t `View 'a s'lfft'ld, 1e r1 g th" f; miriam entendi d reliefs axidmans', frfafirfxg Said `rl1rSSi9iUln9Sly 531121,16 sanne direction to` ifi'dsaid curfairi upon one lcran unwidffrdmllie 0f lier, said `rf,1ens including a p iiifof coaxial shafts respectively -drivecir.;rrierct'ed lfocq'i'resp qndandfyieldablelmelans inter-co Ineet-ing,said fnbes to @arial with and respiivsl,

wound upon,"'or1 e rollerfand"sjrniilianeously unifolind p tain-winding direction whereby to maintain in taut condition the length of curtain extending between the rollers.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Garbut et al July 15, 1930 Duncan et al June 30, 1931 Albers July 13, 1943 Clark Aug. 7, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany July 14, 1903 Germany June 22, 1940 

